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The Sherwood, Ore., City Council has approved a $41 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year in front of more than 100 residents, many of whom expressed concern about higher supply and personnel costs, a lack of funding to add police officers and the budget's long-term prospects.

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The Lake Oswego, Ore., City Council approved a budget Tuesday that includes cutting about 10.5 staff positions from the city's departments of economic development, parks and recreation, planning and public affairs. The cuts, which councilors said were brought on by rising pension and health care costs, will force the city to reduce services.

The Portland, Ore., City Council will consider an emergency ordinance to amend an arts tax to exclude people who earn less than $1,000 per year. The $35-per-person tax applies to residents 18 and older who make any kind of income, including something as insignificant as one job that earns a teenager $10. The tax, which excludes those in households below the poverty line, is meant to generate about $12 million annually for elementary-school arts teachers and art-institution grants.

The Tualatin, Ore., City Council has approved a $500,000-plus transportation plan that excludes work on two bridges, despite Mayor Lou Ogden's push for inclusion. "People say I'm all about bridges, but, no, I'm all about trying to solve traffic problems," Ogden said. "And I have concerns about the overall performance of this plan." Councilors and residents say the projects would negatively affect the environment and would not ease traffic.

The Forest Grove, Ore., City Council voted 5-1 to annex 75 acres of "islands," despite objections from several residents. The council made the controversial decision because it will help with planning and development and will bring in about $72,000 in extra property-tax revenue each year. Island residents, however, say higher taxes that come with annexation are not worth the services gained, including sanitary sewer and road maintenance.

Ron Foggin started Jan. 2 as city manager of Dallas, Ore., after questionable budgeting and the departure of a manager who was suspected of misusing city resources. However, Foggin says he hopes to get residents more involved in the community and restore their confidence in the city manager position. "My hope is that we can put whatever issues the former city manager had behind us and that staff and myself will be given the opportunity to show that this was an anomaly," he said.